Air operated projectile firing apparatus



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` A AIR OPERATED PROJECTILE FIRING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 30, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 griet sid?? Mmh 3, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. w.I JOYCE ETAI..

AIR QPERATED APRJECTILE FIRING APPARATUS origina Fued Nov. so. 196s Mmh'a, 1910 R8 w. JQY'CE mi. 3,497,984

A AIR OPERATED PROJEXTIIJE FIRING APPARATUS Origial FnedNov. 30, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. w. .noma As... AIR lOPERA'IED PROJBCTILE FIRING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 30. 1 5 Sheets-Sham 5 IN ENTORS.

United States Patent O 3,497,984 AIR OPERATED PROJECTILE FIRING APPARATUS Ronald W. Joyce, Springdale, Eugene E. Billingslea, Rogers, Leopold C. Sage, Fayetteville, and Robert K. Marshall, Rogers, Ark., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Victor Comptometer Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application Nov. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 598,087, now Patent No. 3,399,596, dated Sept. 3, 1968. Divided and this application Mar. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 739,575

Int. Cl. F41c 5/02, 7/00, 11 00 U.S. Cl. 42 39.5 9 Claims This invention relates to air operated projectile ring apparatus, and, more particularly, a gun having new and improved operating apparatus. and is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 598,087 filed Nov. 30, 1966, now U.S. Patent No. 3,399,596.

The inventive principles have been illustratively incorporated in a shoulder-type gun having a cocking lever action by which the gun is conditioned for firing and by which rounds of ammunition stored in a magazine in the gun are moved to a firing position.

The new and improved operating apparatus of the present invention is particularly related to guns of the type utilizing an air ignition system. A gun of this type is described in detail in copending application Ser. No. 473,556 for Air Operated Projectile yFiring Apparatus iiled July 7, 1965, and incorporated herein by reference.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide new and improved operating apparatus for a gun whereby during a cooking cycle: an ammunition holding device is movable from a ring position to a loading position and back to the tiring position; an ammunition ejection mechanism is cooperable with the ammunition h-olding device in the loading position to eject any unfired round carried by the ammunition holding device; and an ammunition loading mechanism is thereafter cooperable with the ammunition holding device in the loading position to load a round of ammunition into the ammunition holding device prior to movement back to the tiring position.

Among the secondary objects are to provide new and improved operating apparatus for the gun comprising: trigger means mounted on a cooking level for movement therewith during a cocking cycle; sear means and latch means operable by the trigger means to re the gun in a new and improved manner; compression cylinder means movable axially by a cocking lever connected thereto in a new and improved manner; an ammunition holding device of new and improved design movable axially and pivotally from a ring position to a transfer position to a loading position and :back to the ring position; ammunition holding device operating means of new and improved design; an ammunition loading device of new and improved design pivotally and axially movable with and relative to the ammunition holding device and cooperable therewith in a new and improved manner; ammunition loading device operating means of new and improved design; an ammunition loading device of new and improved design connected to the ammunition loading device in a new and improved manner enabling the ammunition loading device to be moved axially and pivotally; ammunition ejection means of new and improved design cooperable with the ammunition V,holding device and the ammunition loading device in a new and improved manner; and ammunition ejection means operating mechanism of new and improved design.

The inventive principles have been illustratively ernbodied in a gun as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational View of the icc gun partly in section with parts removed and some parts shown schematically;

FIGURE 2 is another partial side elevational view of the gun with parts broken away and partly in section and parts shown schematically;

FIGURE 3 is an elongated opposite side elevational view of the gun with parts removed and shown schematically;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the gun taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional View of the gun taken along the line 5 5 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6 6 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional plan View taken along the line 7 7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8 8 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged partial view showing a round of ammunition in ring position in the gun;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic isometric view of a portion of the operating apparatus of the gun in a tiring position;

FIGURE 1l is a schematic isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l0 in a transfer position;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 in an ejection position; and

FIGURE 13 is a schematic isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 10-12 in a loading position.

IN GENERAL The present invention is particularly directed to a gun in which a round of caseless ammunition 20, FIG. 9, comprising a projectile portion 21 of lead or the like and a propellant portion 22 is adapted to be red from the gun by hot air ignition of the propellant. The projectile portion is provided with a rounded nose portion 25 of one diameter and a body portion 26 of slightly enlarged diameter so as to provide a shoulder 27 therebetween. The propellant portion 22 may be cylindrical in shape and moulded on .or otherwise attached to the body portion 26 of the projectile to form a rearward extension thereof.

An ammunition holding device 28 is provided with an ammunition receiving chamber 29 having cylindrical portions 32, 34 and 36 of gradually increasing diameter. Chamber portions 32 and 34 have diameters corresponding to the diameters of the rounded nose portion 25 and the body portion 26, respectively, of the projectile to form a shoulder 38 adapted to abuttingly receive the projectile shoulder 27 and hold the round of ammunition in the chamber until after ignition of the propellant 22. When the high energy gases generated by the burning propellant create a propulsion force higher than a predetermined shot start force, determined by the abutting relationship between the projectile and the chamber, the projectile is driven from* the gun.

The chamber portion 36 is sufficiently enlarged to permit an annular obturating rim portion 39 of an obturating plug 40 to be received in surrounding relationship with the propellant portion 22 which, in the firing position, is located within an annular chamber 42 in the obturator plug. An air passage 44 connects the chamber 42 to a valve chamber 46 in which a ball valve 48 is retained in controlling relationship to an air passage 50 communicating with a source of high temperature air. Passage 50 is terminated by a conical valve seat 52 on which the ball valve `48 is adapted to be seated to close passage 50 when the propellant portion 22 is ignited and the pressure in passage 44 and chamber 46 of the high energy gases generated by the burning propellant exceeds the air pressure in passage 50. It may be thus observed that in the tiring position, a firing chamber is defined by tiring chamber means comprising the ammunition 20, the ammunition chamber 29, and the obturator plug 40 so that hot air delivered through passage 50 past ball valve 48 and through passage 44 is confined and retained in the firing chamber to cause ignition of the propellant. Thereafter, the high energy gases generated by the burning propellant are confined within the firing chamber by closing of the ball valve 48 so that, when the shot start force is exceeded, the projectile is forced past the shoulder 38 and the forces generated by the high energy gases are exerted primarily in driving the projectile from the gun.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3, in general, the gun further comprises a stock portion 60, a receiver means 62, a receiver casing 64, a barrel means 66, a movable air compression cylinder 68, a guide tube 70 for the air compression cylinder, a piston means 72, a piston means guide tube 74, a piston means operating compression spring 76, a sear means 78, a latch means 80, a trigger means 82, a cocking lever 84, a loading device 86, a spring magazine extension tube 88, a loading housing and magazine tube 90, a magazine follower 92, a magazine follower spring tube assembly 94, an ejection device 96, an operating rod 98, a control rod 100, an ejection rod 102, a trip rod 104, a guide rod 106, and a helper spring 108, the details and operation of which are hereinafter described in further detail.

RECEIVER MEANS The receiver means 62 comprises a main bottom plate receiver portion 110 to which a front receiver housing portion 112 is securely fastened thereto by fastening means 114 extending through a fastener opening 116, FIG. 4, in the front receiver housing portion and threadably secured in a threaded opening 117, FIGS. -6, in a fastener block receiver portion 118. The front receiver housing portion includes a threaded barrel opening 120, FIG. 1, terminating in a reduced diameter boss portion 122 providing a guide tube seat 124. Arcuate upper housing surface 125, FIG. 4, provides a casing seat. A control rod guide opening 126, FIG. 2, extends through a front receiver housing wall portion 128 and opens into a spring well 130. The guide opening is offset to .one side of a central axis 132, FIG. 4, of the gun. An operating rod guide opening 134, FIG. 2, extends through the front receiver housing portion parallel to and below the control rod opening. A trip rod opening is formed by an upwardly and inwardly radially extending slot 136, FIG. 4, opening into the operating rod opening. An ejector rod guide opening 138, FIG. 4, extends through the front receiver housing portion and a forwardly extending support bushing 140, FIG. 1. The ejector rod guide opening is offset on the opposite side of a central axis 132 of the gun.

The main receiver portion further comprises an upwardly extending rear receiver housing portion 142, FIG. 1, and an upwardly extending intermediate receiver housing portion 144, FIG. 2. The rear receiver housing portion 142 is provided with a centrally located piston rod opening 146 and counterbore 148. The upper surface 150 of the rear receiver housing portion has a cylindrical curvature to provide a seat for the guide tube 70. A magazine follower opening (not shown) is provided in the rear receiver housing portion and is offset to one side of a central axis of the gun.

A link chamber 152, FIG. 1, is formed between the rear receiver housing portion 142 and a stock attachment housing 154. A magazine follower opening (not shown) extends through the stock attachment housing in general alignment with a central axis of the gun and, is thus laterally offset from the magazine follower opening in the rear receiver housing portion. A trigger slot 156 is formed in the bottom plate and communicates with chamber 152.

A cocking lever slot 158 is formed in the bottom plate between a pair of downwardly depending ears 160. FIG. 3, provided with aligned pivot pin apertures 162. Link siots 163, 164 are provided at the front and rear of the cocking lever slot.

The intermediate receiver housing portion 144 is offset to one side of a central axis of the gun and is provided with a control rod opening 165, FIG. 2, and an operating rod opening 166.

A transversely extending slot 168 is formed in the bottom plate portion to provide clearance for swinging movement of a portion of the ammunition holding device.

An ejection device well 170, FIG. 8, is provided in the bottom plate portion opposite the intermediate receiver housing portion between a pair of pivot pin supporting anges 172, 174, FIG. 7.

A number of fastening screw holes 176, 178, 180, FIG. 3, are provided in various portions of the receiver to enable the lreceiver casing to be secured thereto.

RECEIVER CASING The receiver casing 64 is in the form of an elongated generally channel-shaped member which is provided with an ejection port 182, FIG. 8, and a loading port (not shown) in one side wall. The front portion of the casing is provided with an inner arcuate inner wall 184, FIG. 4, having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the top surface of the front receiver housing portion and terminating in shoulder portions 186, 188 adapted to be Seated on the corresponding shoulder portions of the front receiver housing portion. The other inner top portions of the casing have a diameter corresponding to the pront portion and to the outer surface of the guide tube 70 which has a diameter corresponding to the front housing seat 184. A number of fastener openings are provided in the side walls of the casing to enable the casing to be securely fastened to the receiver by suitable fastening means 190, 192. The rear of the casing abuts the front of the stock at 193.

GUIDE TUBE The air compression cylinder guide tube is longitudinally divided into a series of circumferentially extending segments of varying length. A front segment 194, FIG. 3, extends approximately 195 about, and is adapted to be seated on, the rearwardly extending hub 122 on the front receiver housing portion. The front segment adjoins a segment 196 which extends circumferentially approximately 240. Proper clearance is provided for the ammunition holding device 28. An intermediate section 198, FIG. 2, extends continuously 360 to provide rigidity for the guide tube. The next adjacent section 200, FIG. 1, extends circumferentially approximately 310 from an edge 202 located at the bottom of the guide tube to an edge 204, FIG. 8. A cocking lever attachment housing guide slot 206 extends rearwardly from the connecting section 198 through section 200 and an elongated intermediate section 208 of the guide tube which extends circumferentially 280. The rear segment 210, FIG. 1, extends circumferentially about and is seated on the rear receiver housing portion surface 150. An abutment shoulder 212, FIG. 3, engages the front surface of the rear receiver housing portion and a shoulder 214 engages the rear surface of the front receiver housing portion to axially locate the guide tube.

THE AIR COMPRESSION CYLINDER The air compression cylinder 68 is slidably movable axially within the guide tube 70 between a forwardly extended ring position and a rearwardly retracted cockingloading position. The air compression cylinder 68 is provided with an integral front wall 220, FIG. l, and a forwardly projecting hub portion 222 in which the obturator plug 40 is fixedly mounted. A resilient abutment disc 223 having an air passage 224 is secured on the rear of wall 220. Air passage 50, FIG. 9, is centrally formed in the front wall and communicates with compression chamber 225 through passage 224. The rear end 226 of the air compression cylinder is open so as to permit the air compression cylinder to be axially moved relative to the piston means 72.

An operating rod attachment housing 228, FIG. 8, is offset to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the gun and the air compression cylinder and depends downwardly therefrom through the slot 206. An operating rod attaching hole 230, FIG. 2, is provided at the bottom of the housing to receive a reduced diameter connecting end 232 of the operating rod. Longitudinally extending slot means 234 are provided in the side wall of the housing to receive an attaching pin 236 connected to the operating rod. The pin and slot connection provides lost motion means whereby the final movements of the cocking lever from the firing position to the cooking position and from the cocking position to the firing position do not cause corresponding movement of the ,operating rod. A cocking lever attaching ange 238 extends rearwardly from the operating rod attaching housing and is provided with a transverse pivot pin aperture.

The outside diameter of the air compression cylinder corresponds to the inside diameter of the guide tube so as to be slidably supported therewithin. The longitudinally extending slot 206 in the guide tube accommodates the operating rod attaching housing and the cocking attaching flange during movement of the air compression cylinder between the ring position and the loading position.

PISTON MEANS The piston means 72 is slidably movable relative to the air compression cylinder in the firing position from a cocked retracted position to an extended tired position and is slidably movable with the air compression cylinder from the tiring position to the retracted cocked position. The piston means 72 comprises a piston head 240 supported in the air compression cylinder 68 for slidable movement therebetween. A piston rod 242 extends rearwardly and is slidably mounted in the guide tube 74. The rear end of the piston rod is provided with a sear groove 244 having a forwardly facing inclined abutment surface 246 at the rear of the groove and a sear engaging abutment surface 248 at the end of the piston rod.

SEAR MEANS The sear means 78 is pivotally movable between a holding position retaining the piston means in the retracted cocked position until the trigger is pulled to a released position. A hub portion 256, FIG. 1, pivotally supports the sear on a pivot pin 252 mounted between spaced flanges 256 of a sear bracket 258 which is xedly secured between the rear receiver housing portion 142 and the stock attachment receiver housing portion 154. A forwardly projecting arm portion 260 of the sear terminates in a downwardly extending rib-like projection 262 adapted to be received in the sear groove on the p-iston rod in the cocked position. The rib-like projection is provided with a at tapered rear abutment surface 264 adapted to abuttingly engage the correspondingly tapered rear surface 246 of the sear groove. An upwardly facing latch abutment surface 266 is provided at one end of the rib-like projection and is adapted to abuttingly receive the sear latch 80 in the cocked position. A sear spring, illustrated schematically at 268, is provided to bias the sear toward a released position with the rib-like projection located upwardly in spaced relationship above the piston rod. In order to return the sear from the released position to the holding position, a downwardly projecting cam portion 270 is provided with a cam surface 272 engageable by the rear surface 248 of the piston rod during movement of the piston rod to the cocked position so as to force the sear from THE SEAR LATCH The sear latch is pivotally movable between a latching position latching the sear in restraining engagement with the piston means and a released position. The sear latch is pivotally movable about a pin 274, FIG. 1, supported by the sear bracket 258. A sear engaging projection 276 is provided at one end of the sear latch and includes an abutment surface 278 adapted to overlie the top of the sear projection in the cocked position. A rounded cam surface 280 is provided at the end of the sear latch to enable the sear latch to be cammed about the pivot 274 by engagement with the sear during portions of the cocking cycle. A latch spring 282 is suitably connected at one end to the latch and at the other end to the receiver. Spring 282 is mounted in tension between the latch and the receiver so as to exert a biasing force on the latch tending to cause movement of the latch toward the cocked latching position. The bottom end of the latch is provided with a laterally offset portion 284 having a cam surface 286 engageable by the trigger to move the latch from the cocked latching position to the released position against the bias of the spring 282. An abutment surface 288 is provided on the bottom of the offset portion 284 and is adapted to act as a safety preventing return movement of the trigger into the trigger cavity 156 at the end of a cocking cycle with the trigger in a released position.

THE TRIGGER Trigger 82 is pivotally mounted on the cooking lever by pivot pin 290, FIG. 1, and is pivotally movable between a cocked position and a released tiring position. A trigger spring 291 is mounted about the pin 290 and cooperatively engages the trigger to bias the trigger toward the cocked position. A cam projection 292 extends upwardly through the trigger cavity 156 into the receiver for camming engagement with the latch surface 286. In the cocked tiring position, the cam projection 292 is located in abutting engagement with the cam surface 286 on the latch. As the trigger is pulled rearwardly against the bias of the trigger spring, the cam projection is moved forwardly and downwardly to cause movement of the latch from the cocked firing position to the released position. A safety flange 294 is provided at the rear of the trigger and is adapted to be cooperable with an adjustable button-type safety pin 295 to prevent rearward movement of the trigger when the safety is in an on position. An abutment surface 296 is provided at the top of the cam projection 292 for abutting engagement with the abutment surface 288 on the latch should the trigger be in the pulled released position at the end of the cocking cycle when the trigger is being returned to the trigger cavity.

THE COCKING LEVER The cocking lever 84 is pivotally movable in a cocking cycle from a stowed retracted firing position to an extended cooking position and back to the tiring position. The cocking lever 84 comprises slotted handle portion 298, FIG. 1, a slotted trigger guard portion 300, and a lever portion 363 formed by an integral inwardly offset extension of the cooking lever. Lever portion 383 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 3434 extending between spaced receiver ear portions 160i. A bifurcated connecting link 305 is connected at one end to lever portion 303 by a pivot pin 306 and at the other end by an offset link portion 307, FIG. 2, and pivot pin 308 to the air compression cylinder attaching flange 238. Thus, as the cooking lever is moved from the tiring position to the cooking position, the air compression cylinder is moved rearwardly to the loadingcocking position and, as the cocking lever is returned from the cooking position to the firing position, the air compression cylinder is moved forwardly to the firing position.

A trigger slot 309 opens upwardly through the top surface of the cocking lever between spaced trigger pivot pin support flanges 310. A safety opening 312 is provided at the rear of the trigger slot. It will thus be observed that the trigger is pivotally supported by and movable with the cocking lever during the cocking cycle.

THE AMMUNITION HOLDING DEVICE The ammunition holding device 28 is in the form of a pivotally mounted arm having a generally cylindrical tubular ammunition chamber housing 314 integrally formed at one end and a generally cylindrical tubular support housing 316 integrally formed at the other end. An arm portion 318 integrally connects the spaced tubular housing. A rod opening 320, FIG. 2, in the support housing 316 xedly mounts the control rod 100 for rotation with the control rod. A combination compression and torsion spring 322 is mounted about the control shaft 100 in spring well 130 and is compressible between the front receiver housing portion 112 and the ammunition holding device so as to provide a biasing force tending to cause movement of the ammunition holding device from a tiring position in abutting engagement with the barrel means and a transfer position axially rearwardly displaced therefrom. The spring 322 is also adapted to act as a torsion spring exerting a force on the ammunition holding device tending to cause movement thereof from a loading position to the transfer position. The spring 322 is arranged to be wound upon movement of the ammunition holding device from the transfer position to the `firing position.

The ammunition holding device further comprises a downwardly extending magazine blocking means in the form of a curved flange 324, FIG. 5, providing a rearwardly facing flat surface 326, FIG. 7, adapted to abuttingly engage the loading device 86 except when the ammunition chamber 21, FIG. 9, is aligned with the ammunition magazine in a loading position of both the ammunition holding device and the ammunition loading device. As may be observed by reference to FIG. 6, the blocking ange 324 extends along a radius of curvature having its center on the longitudinal axis of the control rod 100 which corresponds to the path of movement of the ammunition loading device 86 about control rod 100 so that, as the ammunition holding device 28 is pivoted with the control rod 100, the abutment surface 326 is maintained in alignment with the ammunition loading device.

THE LOADING DEVICE 'Ille loading device 86 is axially movable on control rod 100 between a tiring position and a transfer-loading position and pivotally movable on control rod 100 between the transfer-loading position and an ejection position. Loading device 86 is in the form of a pivotal arm having a cylindrical tubular loading housing 330, FIG. 6, integrally formed at one end and a cylindrical pivot housing 332 formed at the `other end. An arm portion 334 integrally connects the spaced tubular housings. The tubular loading housing comprises a loading port 336, FIG. 7, and an elongated counterbore 338 which provides an elongated seat for the spring extension 88 of the magazine. The spring extension has an inside diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the loading port 336 so that the loading port forms a continuation of the ammunition passage provided by the spring magazine extension and an outside diameter larger than the diameter of the counterbore so as to iixedly mount the spring extension in the counterbore. The tubular pivot housing 332 is provided with an opening 340 having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the control rod received therein so as to be freely pivotally and slidably supported thereon. A spacer 342, FIG. 7, is provided between the housing 320 and the housing 332. A combination compression and torsion spring 344 is mounted on control rod between the ammunition loading device and the intermediate receiver housing portion 144. The spring is compressible during axial rearward movement of the ammunition holding device from the firing position to the transfer position and exerts a forwardly directed biasing force on the ammunition loading device 86 so as to maintain the ammunition loading device in constant abutting engagement with the ammunition holding device.

A releasable connecting means 346 for connecting and disconnecting the loading device to and from the ammunition holding device is provided in the arm portion 334 intermediate the tubular portions 330, 332. The releasable connecting means comprise a pin 348, FIG. 7, slidably mounted in an opening 350 in the arm. A compression spring 3,52 is mounted between the pin and the bottom of the opening to bias the pin outwardly beyond the front surface 354 of the loading device. The rear portion 356 of the pin is reduced in diameter and extends rearwardly beyond the rear surface of the arm portion. A transverse pin 358 extends through the rear pin portion and secures the pin in a forwardly extending connection position as shown. The pin 346 is rearwardly movable against the bias of the compression spring to a release position whereat the front face of the pin is located in alignment with the side surface 354 of the loading device. In the extended position, the pin 346 is located in the path of movement of the ammunition holding device and is engageable thereby during movement from the transfer position to the loading and ejection position to move the loading device from the loading position to the ejection position.

THE EI ECTION DEVICE The ejection device 96 is in the form of a plate 360, FIG. 3, pivotally mounted on pin 362 for transverse pivotal movement between a discharge position and an ejection position. A forwardly opening curved ammunition seat 364, terminating in an abutment shoulder 366, is provided to receive a round of ammunition ejected from the ammunition holding device in the ejection position. A curved cam follower surface 368, FIG. 8, is formed along the back of the ejection plate and includes a portion 370 formed by a rearwardly extending flange 372. In the discharge position, shown in FIGS. -8 and 13, the ejection plate is located in the ejection opening 182 in the casing and is held in that position by engagement between the cam follower surface 370 on the flange 372 and the corresponding adjacent cylindrical surface of the tubular loading device housing 330. A torsion spring 374 mounted on the pivot pin 362 biases the ejection plate inwardly toward the ejection position So that, as the ammunition loading device 86 is pivoted downwardly toward the ejection position by the ammunition holding device 28, the cam follower surface 368 is maintained in engagement with the tubular housing 330 and the ejection plate is pivoted downwardly to the ejection position. Spring 374 is of considerably less strength than spring 344. At the end of the ejection rod 102, any round of ammunition in chamber 29 is pushed rearwardly onto the seat 364 against shoulder 366. When pin 346 is released by rod 104, torsion spring 344 rapidly upwardly moves the ammunition loading device 86 from the ejection position to the loading position which causes plate 360 to be rapidly returned to the discharge position and the ejected ammunition to be flipped out of the gun through casing opening 182.

THE OPEMTING ROD The operating rod 98 is attached at one end to the air compression cylinder housing by the pin and slot connection 234-236 and extends forwardly therefrom in parallel alignment with the air compression cylinder 68 and the barrel 66 on one side of the central longitudinal axis of the gun. The other end of the operating rod is fixedly attached to a movable rod connecting block 378 which is and by the intermediate received housing portion 144 in opening 166 so as to be slidably movable forwardly and rearwardly during intermediate portions of the forward and rearward movement of the air compression cylinder.

THE GUIDE ROD The guide rod 106 is slidably supported in a fixedly mounted guide rod housing 380, FIG 3, attached to the barrel. Compression spring helper means 108 is compressibly mounted between the rod connecting |block 378 and the lguide rod housing 380 to exert a rearward force on the operating rod 98 through the connecting block 378 to assist the cocking lever induced rearward movement of the air compression cylinder. The guide rod is mounted in generally parallel alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the gun, the air compression cylinder, and the barrel.

THE CONTROL ROD The control rod 100 comprises a front portion 382, FIG. 3, of square cross-sectional configuration and a rear portion 384, FIG. 2, of cylindrical `cross-sectional configuration. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 384 is equal to the width of the square section 382 and a stop 386 is formed at the joint therebetween. The square portion includes a twisted section 388, FIG. 3, located between straight sections 390, 392.

A control rod operating cam 394 is provided by a square opening in a cam flange extending to one side of rod connecting block 378. The square portion 382 of the control rod is slidably received in the square opening and the side surfaces of the square portion provide cam follower means by which rotational movement is imparted to the control rod through the central twisted section 388. Straight section 392 permits axial displacement of the cam along the cam follower surfaces without imparting rotational movement to the control rod during initial and terminal portions of a cooking cycle. The straight section 390 permits movement of the cam relative to the cam follower surfaces without imparting rotational movement to the control rod during intermediate portions of the cocking cycle.

The cylindrical portion of the control rod is slidably and rotatably supported in the opening 126 in front receiver housing portion 112 and in the opening 165 in intermediate receiver housing portion 144. The control rod is axially -movable rearwardly with the ammunition holding device spring 322 during rearward movement of the air compression cylinder until stop 386 is brought into abutting engagement with a thrust washer 396, FIG. 2. The control rod is slidably movable forwardly against the bias of the ammunition holding device spring by engagement of the air compression cylinder with the ammunition holding device during return movement of the air compression cylinder from the cocking-loading position to the firing position.

THE EJECTION ROD The ejection rod 102 is iixedly mounted in the rod connecting block 378 and extends rearwardlytherefrom through, and is slidably supported in, hub portion 140 and opening 138 of the front receiver housing portion. The ejection rod is mounted in general parallel alignment with the operating rod and the control rod and the guide rod and is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the gun on a side opposite the operation rod and the control rod. The ejection rod is movable rearwardly during the first half of the cocking cycle and is positioned within the ammunition receiving chamber 29 after the ammunition holding device 28 has been moved to the loading position.

THE RELEASE ROD The release rod 104 is ixedly mounted on the rod connecting block 378 or directly on the operating rod 98 for sliding movement therewith through opening 136 in the front receiver housing portion 112. The trip rod is aligned with the release means pin 346 in the ejection position of the ammunition loading device and is operable to engage the pin and move the pin rearwardly to disengage the ammunition loading device from the ammunition holding device.

THE LOADING HOUSING The loading housing is fixedly mounted on the receiver bottom plate by suitable fastening means 400, FIG. 3, on one side of the gun adjacent a loading port (not shown) in the receiver casing. A magazine tube 402 extends forwardly from the loading housing 90 and terminates in a spring attachment housing 404 within which a substantial portion of the rear of the spring magazine extension 88 is slidably mounted to permit axial displacement of the loading device and the spring extension. A loading slot 406 faces the loading port in the side of the receiver casing and is adapted to receive rounds of ammunition to 1be stored in axial alignment in the magazine tube 402 and the spring magazine extension 88. The loading slot 406 is normally closed by a rearwardly slidable cover plate (not shown) slidably supported on spaced flanges 408, 410 and adapted to be seated on shoulder 412 in a closed position.

SPRING MAGAZINE EXTENSION The magazine tube 404 is connected to the loading port 336 in the ammunition loading device 86 by the spring magazine extension 88 which is formed of coiled spring wire, or the like, permitting lateral flexing. At least one of the spring extension is slidably mounted in an elongated counterbore in the loading housing or in the ammunition loading device. Thus, during axial -movement of the loading device the spring magazine extension is slidably displaced. During pivotal movement of the loading device between the loading position and the ejection position, the spring magazine extension is flexed into and out of aligment with the magazine tube 402.

MAGAZINE FOLLOWER The magazine follower 92 is in the form of a flexible Wire cable having a follower head (not shown) attached to the forward end thereof to abuttingly engage the last round of ammunication in the tubular magazine to urge the ammunition toward the loading port 336 in the loading device. The follower head is adapted to cooperate with the loading slot cover so as to enable the loading slot cover to be located in a closed position, as by an associated spring, when the follower head is in abutting engagement with the last round of ammuniation and so as to move the cover plate rearwardly to expose the loading slot 406 whenever the follower head is pulled rearwardly beyond the loading slot. A flexible cable is used to support the follower head to permit the flexing action of the spring magazine extension 88 `during movement of the loading device 86 between the loading position and the ejecting position. In addition, the magazine follower spring tube assembly 94 is centrally located in the stock 60 and thus laterally offset from the magazine tube so that the magazine follower must be suiciently flexible to extend therebetween.

THE MAGAZINE FOLLOWER SPRING TUBE ASSEMBLY The magazine follower spring tube assembly 94 is centrally located in the stock portion 60 of the gun. The assembly may be of conventional design and is not described in detail herein. Spring means in the tube assembly are provided to bias the magazine follower head into forward urging engagement with the last round of ammunition in the magazine. An operating means for retracting the magazine follower for insertion of ammunition through loading slot 406 is provided at the rear of the stock.

l1 THE BARREL MEANS The barrel means 66 is provided with a bore 408 extending through a threaded mounting portion 409 at the rear end which terminates in a rearwardly extending boss 410 adapted to be received in an obturating chamber 412 in the ammunition holding device 28.

OPERATION The high temperature ignition air is obtained by compression of air in cylinder 68 by movement of piston assembly 72 from a rearwardly retracted cocked position, FIG. 1, at the rear end of the cylinder to a forwardly extended position (not shown) at the front end of the cylinder in closely spaced relationship to abutment ring 223 mounted at the front end of the cylinder. High ternperature air is delivered through passages 224, 50, 46, and 44 to chamber 42. Forwardly protruding obturation plug 40, mounted in the front Wall of the cylinder, floatingly contines ball valve 48 in the valve cavity 46 adjacent conical valve seat 52 which surrounds passage 50 and opens toward the tiring chamber. When the hot air contacts the propellant portion 22 in the chamber 42, ignition of the propellent occurs and the high energy gases generated thereby ow rearwardly through passage 44 against valve 48 located on seat 52 to close the passage 50 and form a rigid reaction wall.

A ring cycle is initiated by rearward movement of trigger 82 against the bias of trigger spring 291. Protrusion 292 on the trigger is pivoted forwardly and downwardly against projection 284 on latch 80 which is rotated about pivot 274 causing projection 276 to be pivoted rearwardly from a position of restraining engagement with abutment 266 on sear 78 to a release position of disengagement relative to the abutment 266. A tension spring 282 biases latch lever 80 toward the latching position as shown in FIG. l. Sear 78 is rotated upwardly about pivot 252 by spring 268 so that the abutment 262 is moved out of restraining engagement with piston rod 242 in sear groove 244. When sear 78 is released by acuation of trigger 82, compression spring 76 drives the piston assembly 72 forwardly within cylinder 68 to compress the air in the cylinder as previously described.

In order to cock the gun after a firing cycle and prepare the `gun for another tiring cycle, the cocking lever 84 is provided with a handle 298 and is pivotally movable downwardly and forwardly about pivot 304. As the cocking lever handle is pivoted downwardly about pivot 304, line 305 is carried rearwardly on pivot 306 and, in the fully cocked position, is accommodated by recess 164 in the receiver wall 142. The rearward movement of link 305 causes the cylinder 68 to be moved rearwardly therewith. Slot 206 along the bottom of the tubular member 70 permits relative sliding movement of the depending link flange 238 and housing 223.

As the cylinder is moved rearwardly, the piston assembly 72 is also carried rearwardly due to abutting engagement between disc 223 and the piston head 240. Compression spring 76 is compressed.

The rearward movement continues until the piston rod groove 244 again receives the sear abutment 262. The rearward movement of the piston assembly causes the rear end 248 of the piston rod to come into abutting engagement with cam surface 272 on the sear which rotates the sear projection 262 downwardly about pivot 252 against the bias of the sear spring 268. In this manner, the projection 262 is moved into abutting and retaining engagement with the piston rod in the sear groove. At the same time, cam surface 276 on the latch lever 80 is engaged by the projection surface 264 and is cammed rearwardly to move the bottom portion forwardly about the pivot 274 against the bias of spring 282. As the latch projection 276 rides over the top of the sear projection 262, the spring 282 moves the latch lever 80 into retaining position with the latch projection overlying the sear projection.

During a cocking cycle, the trigger is carried downwardly with the cocking lever. Spring 282 is arranged so as to also cause the bottom portion 288 of the latch lever to be located in a blocking position in trigger cavity 156, only if and when the trigger has been pulled and not allowed to return forward to its normal position. Conventional safety 295 is mounted in the cocking lever in association with a safety projection on the trigger so that the trigger cannot be pulled rearwardly until the safety is placed in a firing position permitting such movement.

During the return movement of the cocking lever to the retracted firing position, and of the air compression cylinder to the extended firing position, the helper spring 108 is compressed between housing 380 and block 378. Thus, during cocking movement, the spring 108 assists the rearward movement of the air compression cylinder piston assembly, and associated control mechanisms.

During the cocking action, ejection means are provided to eject any unfred round in the ammunition receiving chamber 29 and loading means are provided to load another round in the ammunition receiving chamber. The ejection and loading operations are accomplished by moving the ammunition holding device 28 from the ring position, FIG. 10, to, rst, an axially rearwardly displaced transfer position, FIG. 11, and, then, to a pivotally downwardly displaced ejection and loading position, FIGS. 12 and 13. The axial rearward movement is obtained by means of compression spring 322, mounted on control rod between housing 112 and the ammunition holding device 28, which causes axial rearward sliding movement of the ammunition holding device and the control rod when the air compression cylinder 68 is moved rearwardly. An abutment formed by thrust washer 396 limits the axial rearward movement. The rearward movement is sucient to move the ammunication holding device rearwardly beyond obturation projection 410, FIG. 9, at the rear of the barrel which is received within corresponding obturating chamber 412 in the ammunication holding device in the ring position as shown in FIG. 10.

Ammunition holding device 28 is pivoted downwardly from the axially displaced transfer position of FIG. 11 toward the ejection and loading position of FIGS. 12 and 13 as the cam means 394, FIG. 3, engages the cam follower means and rotates rod 100. It may be noted that the length and position of the cam follower surfaces 390, 394 is such as to permit axial sliding movement of cam 394 relative to the control rod without imparting rotation to the control rod both at the beginning and the end of relative axial movement therebetween.

The ammunition holding device reaches the ejection and loading position, shown in FIG. 12, before the end of the rst half of the cocking movement. An ejection cycle takes place during and before the termination of the first half of the cocking movement. Ejection rod 102 is xedly mounted on block 378 and movable therewith. The length of the ejection rod and its position relative to the other mechanism are such that the rear end of the ejection rod enters the ammunition receiving chamber 29 soon after the ammunition holding device reaches the ejection and loading position of FIG. 12. The end of the ejector rod then comes into abutting engagement with the projectile portion of any round of ammunition still in the tiring chamber and pushes the round of ammunition rearwardly through the ammunition receiving chamber and into association with ejector assembly 96 as shown in FIG. 12. At the end of the tirst half of the cocking cycle, FIG. 12, the rear end of the ejector rod is substantially ush with the rear surface of the ammunition holding device.

During the downward pivotal movement of the ammunition holding device from the ring position to the ejection and loading position, the loading device 86 is simultaneously downwardly pivoted about control rod 100 to move tubular housing 330 and the spring magazine tube 88 downwardly and inwardly to allow the ejection plate 360 to be moved to the ejection position. The spring magazine tube is made of coiled spring wire so as to be eXible and permit movement of the plate 360 between the ejection position, FIG. 12, and the discharge position, FIG. 13. Loading device 86 is pivoted downwardly from the loading position to the ejection position by engagement with ammunition holding device 28 during movement from the firing position to the ejection and loading position. The forward end of the releasable connecting pin 346 is normally biased forwardly by compression spring 352 beyond the side surface 354. As the ammunition holding device 28 is pivoted downwardly toward the ejection and loading position, a bottom surface 414, FIG. 5, comes into abutting engagement with the pin and forces the loading device downwardly to the position shown in FIG. l2.

Downward and inward displacement of the loading device permits ejector plate 360 to be pivoted inwardly to the ejection position. Torsion spring 374 exerts an inward bias on the ejection plate so that the ejection plate is pivoted inwardly as the loading device is pivoted downwardly. As the loading device is moved downwardly and inwardly, the spring 374 causes the ejector plate to follow downwardly and inwardly. The round of ammunition is ejected from the ammunition receiving chamber onto the curvedsurface 364 of the ejection plate 96 as shown in FIG. l2.

The ejection cycle is completed during nal movement of the first half of the cocking cycle when trip rod 104, moved rearwardly during the cocking cycle through passage 136 in front receiver housing 112, is brought into engagement with the front face of pin 346. The trip rod forces the pin rearwardly against the bias of the spring 352 and the loading device is thus released from restraining engagement with the ammunition holding device. Torsion spring 344, forces the loading device upwardly about control rod 100. The upward movement rapidly pivotally displaces the ejection plate 360 upwardly due to engagement between the housing 330 and the curved surface 368. The return movement is such that any round of ammunition delivered onto the curved surface 364 of the ejector plate is flipped outwardly through a discharge opening in the gun casing.

In order to prevent rounds of ammunition in the magazine from being discharged during the ejection cycle, downwardly curved projection 324 on the ammunition holding device provides an abutment surface 326, FIG. 7, which is aligned with the discharge opening 336 in the magazine housing 330 throughout the movement of the ammunition holding device between the ring position and ejection and loading position, and throughout the movement of the loading device between the loading position and the ejection position. When the magazine housing 330 is returned to the loading position after the ejection cycle is completed, the ejection rod 102 prevents the next round of ammunition from entering the ammunition receiving chamber.

The loading cycle occurs after the ejection cycle during the initial portions of the return movement of the cocking lever. As the cocking lever is returned to its retracted position, ejector rod 102 is moved forwardly and withdrawn from the ammunition receiving chamber 29. The next round of ammunition in the magazine housing 330 is displaced by the spring loaded magazine follower and is pushed into the chamber.

Return movement of the cocking mechanism permits the torsion spring 322, wound during the opening movement, to pivot the ammunition holding device from the ejection and loading position of FIG. 13 to the intermediate transfer position of FIG. 11, with the ammunition receiving chamber in axial alignment with the barrel bore 408, as the cam means is returned to its starting position. An abutment, not shown, is provided to positively locate the ammunition holding device in the transfer position in alignment with the ibarrel and the air cylinder. After` the ammunition receiving chamber is brought into axial alignment with the barrel bore, the cam means 394 is slidably displaced beyond the twisted cam follower means section 388 without further pivotal movement. The air compression chamber engages the ammunition holding device which is thereafter moved axially onto the barrel projection 410, with chamber 412 surrounding the projection and forming an obturating seal therewith. The loading device is correspondingly axially displaced on shaft by spring 344. Thus, the return movement of the cocking action brings the air compression cylinder back into association with the ammunition receiving chamber as previously described.

The invention claimed is:

1. A gun comprising:

barrel means having a bore through which a projectile is -guided when the gun is fired,

ammunition holding means for holding a round of ammunition in a firing position in alignment with said barrel means and being axially movable from the firing position to a transfer position and pivotally movable about a pivotal axis from the transfer position to a loading position out of alignment with said barrel means and pivotally movable back from the loading position to the transfer position and axially movable back from the transfer position to the tiring position,

said ammunition holding means having an ammunition holding chamber extending generally parallel to and being spaced radially from said pivotal axis,

said ammunition holding means including axially and pivotally movable arm means extending radially from said pivotal axis and movably supporting said ammunition holding chamber, support means mounting said arm means for axial -movement between the tiring position and the transfer position and for pivotal movement between the transfer position and the loading position, and

operating means for actuating said ammunition holding means and for conditioning the gun for ring and for ring the gun.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 having control rod means extending generally parallel to said barrel means and xedly mounting said ammunition holding means and being axially and rotatably displacea'ble, and said operating means including rod operating means for axially displacing said control rod means to move said ammunition holding means to and from the transfer position and for rotatably displacing said control rod means to move the ammunition holding means to and from the loading position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and wherein said rod operating means comprises:

lever means movable between a retracted position and an extended position to condition the gun for firing and operable to positively move said ammunition holding means from the transfer position to the ring position,

spring means compressible during movement of said lever means from the extended position to the retracted position by said ammunition holding device during movement from the transfer position to the firing position and selectively operative when compressed during movement of said lever means from the retracted position to the extended position to move said control rod means axially and move said ammunition holding means from the ring position to the transfer position,

cam follower means provided on said control rod means and being positioned and arranged to impart rotational movement to said control rod means, and

cam means mounted in operative association with said cam follower means and operatively connected to said lever means for operation thereby during movement between said retracted position and said extended position and effective when operated to cause rotational movement of said control rod means in one direction and pivotal movement of said ammunition holding means from the transfer position to the loading position during movement of said lever means between the retiacted position and the extended position and to cause rotational movement of said control rod means in the opposite direction and pivotal movement of said ammunition holding means from the loading position to the transfer position during movement of said lever means from the extended position to the retracted position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and having axially movable abutment means positively controlled by said lever means and engageable with said ammunition holding means in the transfer position during movement of said lever means from the extended position to the retracted position to positively move said ammunition holding means from the transfer position to the firing position, and said ammunition holding means being effective to axially displace said control rod means and compress said compression spring means.

S. The invention as dened in claim 3 and wherein said cam follower means comprises polygonal side sur-' 16 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and wherein: said ammunition holding meansl comprises radially spaced generally parallelly extending tubular portions connected by a radially extending arm portion, said ammunition holding chamber being formed in one tubular portion, and

pivotal means being formed in the other tubular portion.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 and having compression and torsion spring means engaging said ammunition holding means to exert an axially directed force thereon tending to move the ammunition holding device from the firing position to the transfer position and to exert a radially directed force thereon tending to move said ammunition holding device from the loading position to the transfer position.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 and having a magazine blocking means attached to said ammunition holding means and being movable therewith and blocking an ammunition magazine except when the ammunition holding device is in the loading position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,377 4/1883 Hadley 42-39.5 338,760 3/1886 Merritt 42-59 946,351 1/1910 Haeghen 42--59 3,067,730 12/1962 Merz 124-51 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

1. A GUN COMPRISING: BARREL MEANS HAVING A BORE THROUGH WHICH A PROJECTILE IS GUIDED WHEN THE GUN IS FIRED, AMMUNITION HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING A ROUND OF AMMUNITION IN A FIRING POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARREL MEANS AND BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE FROM THE FIRING POSITION TO A TRANSFER POSITION AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE ABOUT A PIVOTAL AXIS FROM THE TRANSFER POSITION TO A LOADING POSITION OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARREL MEANS AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE BACK FROM THE LOADING POSITION TO THE TRANSFER POSITION TO AXIALLY MOVABLE BACK FROM THE TRANSFER POSITION TO THE FIRING POSITION, SAID AMMUNITION HOLDING MEANS HAVING AN AMMUNITION HOLDING CHAMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO AND BEING SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID PIVOTAL AXIS, 